Joey Fatone Reveals Boy Band Rivalry Was Manufactured

Joey Fatone recently shed light on the long-standing rivalry between *NSYNC and the Backstreet Boys, suggesting the competition was fabricated. Speaking at '90s Con, Fatone explained that their shared manager, Lou Pearlman, orchestrated the rivalry to foster a competitive environment between the two popular groups.

Fatone elaborated that Pearlman would provide information about one group to the other, encouraging them to differentiate their music and performance styles. This strategy, he noted, created a perception of a fierce battle between pop superpowers, which ultimately benefited the management behind the scenes.

While both groups achieved massive success, Fatone indicated that their musical differences, such as the Backstreet Boys' ballad hits versus *NSYNC's uptempo tracks, helped distinguish them. He also suggested that management deliberately kept the members apart to prevent them from realizing the manufactured nature of their feud.

These recollections align with past comments from members of both bands. In a 2021 interview, AJ McLean and Nick Carter of the Backstreet Boys acknowledged that media also amplified the rivalry. They agreed that while the competition became real for them as young, competitive individuals, its origins lay with their managers.